GTC #3: Session 4
May 20th
The Confederates get several initiatives at the beginning of the turn and reinforce the Bumpass Turnout area which extends the Rebel line south. All the major cross roads from Guinea Station to Bumpass Turnout along the Caroline County boarder are covered by Reb divisions or entrenched brigades. Sheridan swings south across the North Anna and around the Confederate left. Stuart's cavalry is still disorganized and at F1 after being pressed by Union infantry the day before. As a result, the Confederates are unable to react to Sheridan's move south. Sheridan moves around Bumpass Turnout into Hanover County. Beaver Dam Station is burned cutting one of the Hanover Junction Depot's supply lines. On the main front, the V corps advances on Early's corps near Lebanon church. Anderson's division from the Confederate right is sent to support Early and the Union declines to launch any attacks.
May 21st & 22nd
On the 21st, the Rebs win the first three initiatives and send Stuart into Hanover County with F Lee and WH Lee's divisions. The Rebel cavalry cover the crossroads between Sheridan and Hanover Junction. Then disaster strikes for the Union as the turn ends on double-1s without even one Union activation. The one day jump that Sheridan got on Stuart on the 20th is effectively lost as Stuart moves but Sheridan does not. Both sides build lots of breastworks.
Union fortune doesn't improve as the 22nd sees rain. In Caroline County, the Union II and V corps infiltrate the Confederate line. Lee has spread his divisions out over a broad front and covered the key crossroads along the line with interlocking zones of control. The swollen creeks break-up the Confederate zones of control and allow the Union divisions to slide through the "cracks" in the line. Lee reacts by pulling his divisions back a few miles out of their entrenchments. In Hanover County Sheridan faces a tough decision. The rain has him trapped between two rivers (North and South Anna Rivers) and Stuart has cut-off his direct route to the rail lines from Hanover Junction and Richmond. Sheridan decides to press on. Richmond is lightly defended by a 3 manpower Substitute and with fair weather tomorrow it is likely the rail lines can be cut. The question will be whether Sheridan will make it back the AoP. Sheridan pushes south and crosses the South Anna at Ground Squirrel Bridge.
May 23rd
Unfortunately for Sheridan, rain continues on the 23rd. Stuart slowly moves south in pursuit of Sheridan. The Confederates feel confident that Richmond is safe so the 3 manpower brigade rails to Hungary Station while F Lee protects Ashland Station. This secures the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac rail line to Hanover Junction. Sheridan's mission (to cut the rail lines to Hanover Junction and put the ANV in Caroline County out of supply) is effectively compromised. Rather than try to evict the Rebel brigade, Sheridan makes for the forts of Richmond. Custer's prepared attack (+1/+1 D/D) is repulsed. Had Custer's attack succeeded, Sheridan could have captured the Richmond depot and cut the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac rail line by damaging the RR station in Public Square (a Richmond city hex). Sheridan brings up reinforcements and tries an assault which also fails (+2/+0 D/1D). Torbert burns Atlee's Station and with most of Sheridan's units at F3 or F4, the Confederate substitute brigade makes a hasty attack against Devin (-1/-4 1D/-). Sheridan counterattacks with Davies, routs the Sub back to Richmond and retakes Hungary Station (+2/+4 DR/fa). Sheridan's raid, starting off promising on the 20th quickly is becoming a disaster. All his units are at F3 or F4 and about to go out of supply. Stuart's cavalry slides into Richmond to guard the forts in case Sheridan continues the attack the next day. Back in Caroline County, both sides make minimal movement in the rain and no attacks are launched.
May 23rd Strategic Cycle
- LEADER RECOVERY:No leaders are ill, so no effect.
- STRATEGIC EVENT:Strong US Logistics
- REINFORCEMENTS:The Confederates receive Butler's brigade in Richmond and two replacements sent to Lee's army. Hunter arrives in the Valley to replace Sigel. The 9 Union replacements are taken by the VI corps. The Union replacement roll is a 3 (x2; 27 unreplaced losses) and 6 Manpower are sent to the Valley.
- VALLEY:Sigel is passive so neither side moves.
- BERMUDA HUNDRED:Butler is active but does not attack.
- DEPOTS:The Confederates decide to dismantle the Hanover Junction depot which effectively surrenders Caroline county to the Union by the next strategic cycle. A Union depot is placed on its complete side in Port Royal thanks to the Strong Union Logistics.
- SUPPLY AND AMMO:Sheridan's cavalry are out of supply.
- UNION COMMAND:Bulter goes passive, Hunter goes active.
- VP'S:+3 for Port Walthall Junction. The overall VP level of -36.
- END GAME DR:Not until May 31st.
May 24th
The rain finally stops and Pickett arrives on the map from Drewry's Bluff. The Confederates begin their slow withdrawal to Hanover County. The Union pursuit is sluggish. Near Newton's Store, a sharp fight breaks out. Hancock launches a Grand Assault against Rodes (+2/+2 1Dr/1Da) but Longstreet's counterattack routs the Federals back (+4/+5 2DR/Ea). Undaunted, Hancock makes a second Grand Assault, this time against Ramseur that pushes the Rebels back (+3/+2 1Dr/2Da). On the east side of the Mattapony River, Burnside and Sedgwick secure Bowling Green.
Meanwhile there is much commotion in Richmond. Sheridan's attacks the previous day have put a scare into the local populace but the arrival of Stuart brings cheers and alleviates any fears of Yankee occupation. Sheridan retreats through Polly Hudley's Corner, crosses Nelson's Bridge and camps north of the Pamunkey. Stuart pursues and is able to trap and destroy one of Torbert's brigades south of the Pamunkey.
Originally, the Union left Sheridan's troops at Polly Hudley's to forage. Stuart was able to surround them and at the end of the turn we both agreed that it was unlikely that any of Sheridan's forces would survive. Chris made a gentleman's offer to replay the cavalry action on the 24th as I realized that I should have just moved north as fast as possible.
